(Newser)
–
Arlen Specter’s departure is a “tremendous loss” for the Republican party, made “all the more painful because I believe it didn’t have to be this way,” Sen. Olympia Snowe writes in the New York Times. The party ought to have learned its lesson when Jim Jeffords switched teams 8 years ago, but instead plowed ahead, growing more conservative and turning "a blind eye to the iceberg under the surface.”

"It is true that being a Republican moderate sometimes feels like being a cast member of Survivor—you are presented with multiple challenges, and you often get the distinct feeling that you’re no longer welcome in the tribe," Snowe writes. But the party needs moderates just as much as it needs conservatives. “We can’t continue to fold our philosophical tent into an umbrella under which only a select few are worthy to stand.”

we need a parliamentary system in this country. The electoral college is fundamentally flawed in that it practically ensures a two party system. The GOP is being taken over by radical loons. There needs to be a third party composed of moderate fiscal conservatives.

woodyTX

Apr 29, 2009 4:30 AM CDT

T2K you have a stale view of how politics works. Do you actually think that Specter should represent the small faction of GOP pols who helped him win the primary ? Then he should now be beholden to the DEMS who will spend millions getting him re-elected. This is the K street "insider influence wins" mentality. Fortunately it will be neither. Mr. Specter has shown himself to be a stalwart moderate, representing the people of PA in the face of GOP right leaning pressure and will continue to be a moderate in the face of any leftist ideological pressure. He is wise not to let the Toomey Club for Growth bunch and the Santorum crowd control his candidacy. Their candidate will go down in flames as Santorum did only by a wider margin. Why even attempt to ride a suicidal horse ?

bacimom

Apr 29, 2009 2:59 AM CDT

He was elected by Republicans in the primary and general population in the general election.